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Four pitchers sent down in Seattle's first cuts

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By Greg Johns
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MLB.com |

PEORIA, Ariz. -- The Mariners made their first cuts from the Major League camp Sunday, sending down four pitchers -- right-handers Chance Ruffin, Jonathan Arias and D.J. Mitchell and lefty Brian Moran.

Ruffin, the only one of the four on the 40-man roster, was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. The other three are non-roster invitees, so they were reassigned to Minor League camp.

Ruffin, 24, was acquired from the Tigers in the Doug Fister trade in 2011 and spent last year with Tacoma. He'd allowed three runs and six hits in three innings of Cactus League action this spring.

Arias, 25, is a converted catcher who split last season pitching for Class A High Desert and Double-A Jackson. He allowed two runs -- both unearned -- and three hits in four innings in Cactus League play.

Mitchell, 25, was one of two pitchers obtained from the Yankees in exchange for Ichiro Suzuki last July. He went 3-2 with a 2.96 ERA in eight starts for Tacoma last year and had a 4.15 ERA (two runs in 4 1/3 innings) this spring.

Moran, 24, split last year as a reliever for Jackson and Tacoma and had allowed three hits and no runs in four one-inning appearances this spring.

The moves leave the Mariners with 57 players in their Major League camp, with 39 roster players and 18 non-roster invitees.